NFIB Endorses Ed Gillespie for Governor

Joins Police Benevolent Association and Virginia Farm Bureau As Third Major Endorsement This Week

Share

The National Federation of Independent Business, Virginia’s leading small business association, today endorsed Republican gubernatorial nominee Ed Gillespie in the 2017 Virginia governor’s race. The announcement reflects Gillespie’s commitment to getting Virginia’s economy growing again by supporting small businesses and fostering an environment that allows them to expand and create new, good-paying jobs.

Ed Gillespie said of the announcement, “I’m especially proud of this endorsement because my mom and dad were NFIB members as owners of the JC Market. When it comes to economic growth, Virginia should be first in the nation, and to do that, we need to make it easier to open a new business and grow an existing one. The sweet spot of job creation is when a small business is becoming a bigger business, and we need to have more of that happening in Virginia. As governor, I will implement policies that will foster a dynamic economy, create good-paying jobs for all Virginians and restore the Commonwealth’s rightful place as one of the best states in the country for business.”

“Ed Gillespie is the obvious choice for Virginia’s small businesses,” said Nicole Riley, NFIB state director. “His campaign has been centered on one issue: economic growth. His plan to cut taxes on individuals as well as employers would make it easier for small businesses to expand and create jobs. Our members also are encouraged by his promise to reform Virginia’s onerous local business, professional, and occupational license (BPOL) and machinery and tool tax. These antiquated taxes are based on gross receipts, not profit. That means, even if a business is losing money, it’s still forced to pay these taxes. That makes it even harder for these businesses to succeed. He’s also a staunch defender of Virginia’s status as a right-to-work state and embraces traditional and renewable resources to ensure sustainable and affordable energy. Ed Gillespie’s parents were small-business owners, and he’s been a small-business owner himself. He clearly understands that to create jobs and improve Virginia’s economy, you must support the commonwealth’s true job creators, its small businesses. That makes Ed Gillespie the only choice for Virginia’s small business owners, their employees, and their families.”